Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4: CRIED AGAIN

My close friend Castiel was smiling at me when I met him in front of the mansion. He had a teasing grin on his lips when he handed a bouquet of flowers.

"You didn't tell me you were coming back to the hacienda. Change of mind?"

I scowled and invited him inside. We met Miss Yeye coming down the stairs. She looked at Castiel curiously.

"Yeye, can you please put this in a vase?” I asked. 

The old woman hesitated before taking the flowers from my hand. "You're the young man of Revamonte, aren’t you? The owner of Rancho Revamonte?"

Rancho Revamonte is the neighboring land of Hacienda Constancia.

Castiel nodded and politely bowed slightly to the old woman. "Yes, Ma'am. That's me."

Miss Yeye nodded and looked at the flowers in her hand before looking back at me.

"Where should I put this, Stephanie?”

"At my office, please." My office means the guest room that I’m using.

"Are you sure?" she doubts. 

I almost rolled my eyes. I knew what the old woman was trying to imply, but I didn't care. She’s trying to tell me that I shouldn't accept suitors because Nexus was in the house.

Who cares anyway? It would be better if Nexus saw that Castiel gave me flowers.

"We'll just be in the garden. Please send us something to drink," I said and held the man's hand. Castiel followed me willingly when I pulled him towards the wide garden.

I almost pushed Castiel to sit down in front of the round breakfast table. He laughed as I took my hand and sat down in front of him.

"Why are you in a bad mood? And why are you here at the Hacienda? This is a bomb to my system. As far as I know, you cursed this Hacienda and its owner."

"You’re nosy.”

"I am just curious."

I didn't answer and changed the subject instead. He thanked me for pretending to be his girlfriend at his last birthday party. His parents were pressuring him to marry the only daughter of the Interino’s.

"W-Who are you?" came a familiar voice.

Castiel and I turned to him. The irritation was clear in the eyes of the man sitting in the wheelchair. Behind him was Rex. 

“Hey, Man,” Castiel says coolly.

“W- Who are you?”

I stomped on Castiel's foot under the table as he was about to answer. He grunted and glared at me.

"He's Castiel Revamonte from Revamonte Ranch," 

“Hey, Man,” Castiel greeted again after giving me a sneaky grin. “We met multiple times in some business gatherings. I guess Nexus Almeradez doesn’t recognize me, huh?”

"He doesn't remember anything," I interrupted so Castiel would get it as a warning not to talk anymore. 

"Oh, sorry. I'm just visiting Steph here."

"I don't need your sorry," Nexus' face grew darker. His expression competed with the bright sunlight above us. 

He violently pointed the way out of the garden to Castiel. "G-get out of here!"

"What?"

"G-Get out the fuck of here!" Nexus screamed as five men, whom I recognized as Alejandro's bodyguards, entered the garden.

The bodyguards roughly grabbed both of Castiel's arms.

"I-I don't want to see him again in my territory.”

Before Castiel could even react, the large men had already begun dragging him out. One of the bodyguards punched the poor Revamonte as he struggled against them.

"What the fuck?" I cursed, couldn’t bear to hit the bodyguard that punched my friend in the gut. 

My hand stung as it made no impact on him, and I was pulled back by Nexus from behind.

"Don't hurt Castiel. You will see the worst of me." I said while struggling to get away from Nexus.

Instead of listening, they continued what they were doing. Damn, these shits! 

I violently remove Nexus’ arm around my waist and face him angrily

"What the fuck, Almeradez? Do you have to be that rude?" I screamed at him.

"I-I don't like what you're implying, Amara Stephanie," he replied firmly.

"I don't fucking care.  You don't have the right. None! So, you better shut your mouth before I slap you with how shitty you are."

"I-I am your husband," Nexus replied.

"Fuck that fucking word," If not that he was in wheelchair, I probably would give him an uppercut. "Let me tell you something-"

"What's happening here?" I was cut off when Yeye arrived in a huff.

 I came to my senses and wanted to slap my mouth.

I clenched and opened my hands several times, calming myself while fighting Nexus’ evil glare. The rise and fall of my chest indicated that the rage I had been hiding had escaped.

"Why are the two yelling?" Miss Yeye asked again, shifting her gaze between us. "Rex? What happened?" 

The nurse didn’t bother to answer. 

I swallowed to remove the lump in my throat before pulling myself to face her.

"Nothing, Yeye.” 

Before the old woman could say something, I turned my back on them. My steps were as big as I left the garden. I ran into the elevator and impatiently pressed the button. 

Tears began streaming down my face even before the elevator closed. I bit the inside of my cheek and quickly ran to the room I occupied. My tears fell one after the other as I slammed the door shut. 

I covered my mouth and hugged myself as a painful sob escaped from my mouth. That was followed by another... and another... until I couldn't count anymore. 

After two years, I cried again. After the painful death of my unborn child, I only cried now. Same man, same reason...